Bridging Links between Gaps: An Analysis of the African American Achievement Gap in Memphis, Tennessee
Through a historical-comparative approach, this research examined how Memphis, Tennessee over the last 100 years has led to the persistent African American achievement gap in Memphis, By utilizing a Critical Race Theory (CRT) perspective, which suggests racism is maintained by institutionalized ideologies, this research examined racial inequality as it is manifested in education. Two historical time periods were examined. The first was an examination of Memphis society and the impact of politician E. H. Crump from the 1910s-1950s, who promoted racial segregation and instituted the idea that whites were superior to blacks. The second period was the Sanitation Workers Strike of 1968, black workers protested for better conditions and social change. The event led to the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. This research explored how historical racial inequality is significant in black students continuing to score or “achieve” on assessment tests below white students, and the way the education system emulates the institutionalization of racial inequality in Memphis society. Results concluded the persistent present day African American achievement gap is institutionalized, as evidenced by the two time periods in Memphis history observed.